Dialogue on COVID-19 and Gender
Written by Chiseche Mibenge, Director, Gender Initiatives, Episcopal Relief & Development
COVID-19 has left us disoriented, uncertain, and confused, afraid of what we know and anxious about what we do not know. Our old normal has been upended, and we hunger for its return.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s, Word to the Church: What Would Love Do?
Women and children are 14 times more likely to die in disasters. During the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh, there were 80,000 casualties. 77% of these were women and girls.
During this period of COVID-19, Episcopal Relief & Development recognizes the disproportionate impact on women in areas such as caretaking, unemployment, and domestic violence. And we are especially attentive to the priorities of our global partners working for women’s empowerment and gender equity. Program partners’ commitment to commemorating the 16 Days of Activism speaks to their resilience and commitment to ending inequalities that exacerbate domestic violence and other forms of gender based discrimination.
Faith based organizations have created valuable resources for communities confronted with the impact of social distancing measures. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these faith based tools. Episcopal Relief & Development’s toolkit for the 16 Days shares the following resources, and more: Our US Disaster Program’s webinar on COVID-19, recognizes and responds to mental health, and family/partner violence and COVID-19 and provides suggestions for referrals for survivors. Side by Side, a faith movement for gender justice, has compiled a comprehensive list of resources specifically related to gender, faith, and COVID-19.
Comentários